You'll Never Guess Who's Opening an Indoor Rifle Range for Teens

This indoor rifle range comes with top-shelf instructors, safety certifications, and all the state-of-the-art gear you'd want as part of a site where youths learn to use guns.

But it's where this rifle range is located that has some adults asking questions.

It's in a high school.

The brand-new North Atlanta (Ga.) High School, in fact, which opens for business Wednesday, according to WSB-TV.

(Image source: WSB-TV)

While the range is for the school's Junior Reserve Officer Training Corp as well as the rifle team, some parents want more information.

"I'll probably question it a little bit just to get a better idea," parent Donna Jones told WSB. "Like I said, I didn't understand they were going to be doing that but I think they're going to be very careful in protecting the students."

While sponsoring a rifle range on school property may be eye-opening to some, it isn't the only campus rifle range in Atlanta; it's modeled after one already up and running at a neighboring school, WSB reported.

(Image source: WSB-TV)

Others fully support having the range on school property. "It's nothing that can hurt anybody and they will be supervised to the max," said parent Cappy McAlpin to WSB. "Why not start now for those that want to do that?"

"If I see a kid walking around school with a weapon locked and loaded I would have concern," parent Bobby Strozier said, adding that he believes the rifles will be safely locked away when not in use.

As it happens, "rifle" is a loose term in this case: The range is for compressed air-powered pellet rifles, WSB reported. The program will also have an instructor certified by the U.S. Army Cadet Command and the Georgia High School Athletic Association, according to Atlanta Public Schools.

In addition, once the range is safety certified, likely within 30 days, and students are allowed to use it, rifle team members will be equipped with the latest safety gear, WSB says.

"I can see why they would be concerned but I know they go through lots of training and they're heavily supervised," said senior Turner Hume.

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